Leeds Bridewell was the city centre lock up in the Town Hall which housed some of the country’s most infamous villains including murderer Charlie Peace. It opened in 1858 and boasted 13 cells and three police offices with living quarters for a civilian gaoler and his wife. The names comes from St Brides Well in London - a prison for petty offenders. The official name was the Central Charge Office. In 1864 Leeds became an assize town with courts in the Town Hall prompting more cell accommodation was completed beneath the front steps, which were reshaped. These fascinating photos take you inside the Bridewell which remained until 1993, when it was moved to the new Magistrates Courts building. READ MORE: The story of the Leeds city centre character known as 'Woodbine Lizzie' LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia
13. Leeds Bridewell
This is the view a prisoner would have had as he entered the Custody Officer's Room from the long corridor accessing the police entrance of the Town Hall. The room, seen here in 1976, is basically furnished with a heavy wooden desk to the right, and a padded desk in the foreground. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
14. Leeds Bridewell
The corridor accessing cells. The Victorian prison opened in 1858 but underwent considerable modernisation in 1941 including the white tile walls seen here. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
15. Leeds Bridewell
A view through gateway to prisoner's Bridewell beneath the Town Hall. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
16. Leeds Bridewell
Assembly cell 7 was reserved for prisoners under the influence of alcohol and there are low benches and cushions to avoid injuries. From here there was access to Court 1 which became a Remand Court. At the far end there are toilet facilities and just before this is the entrance to the stairs to the Court on the right are side cells, from left to right, numbers 12, 11, 10 and 9. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
17. Leeds Bridewell
This photo shows the spiked door leading to the cells of the Leeds Bridewell. This was the 'Town Lock Up' and is officially known as the 'Central Charge Office'. Prisoners were brought here following arrest in the town. They would then make their first appearance in court. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
18. Leeds Bridewell
Assembly cell 14 which were reserved specifically for women prisoners. A report in 1937 detailed the many inadequacies of the Victorian Leeds Bridewell, including the facilities for female prisoners. The cells were too few, without windows of fresh air and poor toilet facilities. A sum of £8,000 was spent over a four year period on improvements to Leeds Bridewell including the women's cells. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net